Health Minister Simon Harris announced this morning that the morning after pill will available for free to medical cardholders from July.

Emergency contraception is already available over the counter, but until now medical cardholders have needed a prescription to get the drug for free.

From July, women who have medical cards, will be able to go straight to the pharmacy and get the medication they need. 

The IPU described the announcement as “very welcome”. 

"Unintended pregnancy has long been acknowledged as a significant global health, social and economic problem, and crisis pregnancy is an area of grave concern, with the potential to cause great distress to those affected," the union said in a statement.